Cowboys defense for 2015

[neosapien23]

This team needs a boatload of free agents on the Dline, and not expensive ones either. We need upgrades all across the board and not just on the starters but on the backups as well. If I were GM for the day I would try to pick up young and inexpensive free agents. I would definitely target Adrian Clayborn as the Bucs did not exercise his option. He should come cheap and be very inexpensive as he has been injury prone. I would also bring in both Jabal Sheard and Brandon Graham. Jabal Sheard was a much better player in the 4-3 and might welcome a move back to the spot. Brandon Graham has 5.5 sacks as a part time player and would be great for a rotation. I would also bring in Nick Fairly from Detroit to compete at the 3 tech spot. He has severely underachieved and will not command big money. He would offer a much cheaper alternative to Melton. All three players should come in fairly cheap. Jerry Hughes is a restricted free agent and will be tendered at the highest level. JPP is looking for big money but he is about to get a rude awaking. I think he will find that his market value is low after underachieving after his break out year. I still think some team will be foolish and give him a contract in the 8 mill year range which is too much for Dallas. He won't get Mario Williams money though. So lets say Dallas is able to bring in Fairly, Sheard, and Clayborn, they would still need to draft heavy on the Dline. These players would make excellent backups but not starters. If Dallas wants impact players, they will have to turn to the draft. Even if Brandon Carr will agree to a restructure, Dallas should let him go. He is not built for the zone and is a much better man corner. If Dallas is going to go zone, they should stop drafting and bringing in man corners. They should bring in Kyle Wilson from NY as he will be young and cheap. He is a much better zone player than man player. He is not a world beater and should be cheap.

1 round pick: Shilique Calhoun DE, Alvin Dupree DE, or Marcus Golden DE. There will be some prospect that can get to the quarterback. This is a very deep class at DE and the boys should benefit from that. Much better than last year.

2 round pick: Danny Shelton DT This is a big boy at 6-2 340 lbs and can still get to the quarterback. This is exactly the type of player everyone wants at the 1 tech spot.


This defense would be completely rebuilt on this scenario. Notice that Sheard, Clayborn, and Fairly are not expected to be starters. They are expected to be really good backups that can provide quality snaps. They would be replacing Spencer, Selvie, and Melton and not be expected to save the defense. The depth chart would look like this:
1st String WDE: Shilique Calhoun 1 tech Danny Shelton 3 tech Tyrone Crawford SDE Demarcus Lawrence
2nd String WDE Jabal Sheard 1 tech Josh Brent 3 tech Nick Fairly SDE Adrian Clayborn

Like Risen Star said, the defense will not get better until the horses on the Dline are replaced. The scenario I put forth is very feasible and would not put the team in cap hell. Unfortunately the whole Dline needs to be revamped.

 

[Doc50]

No. THey don't need any free agents. They need some hungry guys in the draft. Now if they want to give a hungry guy in free agent who's a 3rd or 4th corner looking to take that next step? I'd be for it. But don't go into the free agent game. Its a game not for people who consider themselves contenders.

I would reference Charles Haley and Demarcus ware in debate of that issue.

 

[BlindFaith]

Part of that is this defensive scheme. It often calls for DE to crash down inside. The LBs are responsible for outside contain when the DEs crash down inside. There have been several occasions this season that the LB and DE both went inside and all outside contain was lost.

I don't know if it's part of the play call or if the LB is required to "read" the DE, but either way the LB has to have outside contain when the DE is crashing down inside.

It really depends on if you're talking weakside or strongside and if its an under or over call. But to be safe, you should assume that the the defensive end should NOT just be crashing down inside. Especially for the weakside End in an under call. Which is what we run a lot of. The problem is Mincey, Selvie and Spencer do a horrendous job of play recognition and very seldom do they set the edge. Part of that may have to do with Marinelli's "rushman" attitude. But focusing on rushing the passer doesn't mean you can just ignore the run, which it appears we do in many cases.

 

[BlindFaith]

I don't see cutting Mincey, not for the pittance he's being paid next season and given that he's done a decent job this season.

JPP isn't giving the G-men anything more than what Mincey is giving the Cowboys.

Ok, I wasn't going to comment on the PFF ranking nonsense, or the other nonsense about Avril being about as good as Mincey. But comparing JPP and Mincey is just ignorant. T Crawford and Lawrence (just because he's young) are the only two players along this defensive line that would even make another teams roster. Period.

This defense is bad. I've been saying it for weeks now. They were playing above their heads. Why are they bad? Because we have bad players. Mincey, Selvie, Hayden, Spencer...None of them should be retained.

 

[xwalker]

This team needs a boatload of free agents on the Dline, and not expensive ones either. We need upgrades all across the board and not just on the starters but on the backups as well. If I were GM for the day I would try to pick up young and inexpensive free agents. I would definitely target Adrian Clayborn as the Bucs did not exercise his option. He should come cheap and be very inexpensive as he has been injury prone. I would also bring in both Jabal Sheard and Brandon Graham. Jabal Sheard was a much better player in the 4-3 and might welcome a move back to the spot. Brandon Graham has 5.5 sacks as a part time player and would be great for a rotation. I would also bring in Nick Fairly from Detroit to compete at the 3 tech spot. He has severely underachieved and will not command big money. He would offer a much cheaper alternative to Melton. All three players should come in fairly cheap. Jerry Hughes is a restricted free agent and will be tendered at the highest level. JPP is looking for big money but he is about to get a rude awaking. I think he will find that his market value is low after underachieving after his break out year. I still think some team will be foolish and give him a contract in the 8 mill year range which is too much for Dallas. He won't get Mario Williams money though. So lets say Dallas is able to bring in Fairly, Sheard, and Clayborn, they would still need to draft heavy on the Dline. These players would make excellent backups but not starters. If Dallas wants impact players, they will have to turn to the draft. Even if Brandon Carr will agree to a restructure, Dallas should let him go. He is not built for the zone and is a much better man corner. If Dallas is going to go zone, they should stop drafting and bringing in man corners. They should bring in Kyle Wilson from NY as he will be young and cheap. He is a much better zone player than man player. He is not a world beater and should be cheap.

1 round pick: Shilique Calhoun DE, Alvin Dupree DE, or Marcus Golden DE. There will be some prospect that can get to the quarterback. This is a very deep class at DE and the boys should benefit from that. Much better than last year.

2 round pick: Danny Shelton DT This is a big boy at 6-2 340 lbs and can still get to the quarterback. This is exactly the type of player everyone wants at the 1 tech spot.


This defense would be completely rebuilt on this scenario. Notice that Sheard, Clayborn, and Fairly are not expected to be starters. They are expected to be really good backups that can provide quality snaps. They would be replacing Spencer, Selvie, and Melton and not be expected to save the defense. The depth chart would look like this:
1st String WDE: Shilique Calhoun 1 tech Danny Shelton 3 tech Tyrone Crawford SDE Demarcus Lawrence
2nd String WDE Jabal Sheard 1 tech Josh Brent 3 tech Nick Fairly SDE Adrian Clayborn

Like Risen Star said, the defense will not get better until the horses on the Dline are replaced. The scenario I put forth is very feasible and would not put the team in cap hell. Unfortunately the whole Dline needs to be revamped.

I see it differently. I think they need the stability of not having wholesale changes. IMO, they need a couple of dynamic players added to the core of OK players.

One great DLineman makes the other DLinemen better and makes the secondary better if they don't have to cover as long.

One great CB would improve the other secondary players and would give the DL the extra split second to get more sacks.

If they do wholesale changes with just slightly better players that could even regress. Having player that understand the scheme is important. You can integrate a few new players to the scheme when they are surrounded by players that know the scheme, but it everybody is new to the scheme then it becomes a mess regardless of talent.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I see it differently. I think they need the stability of not having wholesale changes. IMO, they need a couple of dynamic players added to the core of OK players.

One great DLineman makes the other DLinemen better and makes the secondary better if they don't have to cover as long.

One great CB would improve the other secondary players and would give the DL the extra split second to get more sacks.

If they do wholesale changes with just slightly better players that could even regress. Having player that understand the scheme is important. You can integrate a few new players to the scheme when they are surrounded by players that know the scheme, but it everybody is new to the scheme then it becomes a mess regardless of talent.

I applaud your statement in bold.

 

[xwalker]

But to be safe, you should assume that the the defensive end should NOT just be crashing down inside.

Why would you assume that? They did it often in this scheme. They did it often last year with Ware. Ware probably crashed down inside more often than not.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Ok, I wasn't going to comment on the PFF ranking nonsense, or the other nonsense about Avril being about as good as Mincey. But comparing JPP and Mincey is just ignorant. T Crawford and Lawrence (just because he's young) are the only two players along this defensive line that would even make another teams roster. Period.

This defense is bad. I've been saying it for weeks now. They were playing above their heads. Why are they bad? Because we have bad players. Mincey, Selvie, Hayden, Spencer...None of them should be retained.

JPP hasn't been an elite player in 3 years.

Sometimes letting go of old memories is hard.

And Melton wouldn't make another teams roster?

(where's that facepalm smiley when it need it...)

 

[Doc50]

You have to rebuild the defense. Have to move on from age and underachievers.

D Line
Let George Selvie, Anthony Spencer, and Nick Hayden walk
Cap casualties: Jeremy Mincey, Terrell McClain, and Amobi Okoye (frees up $3M in cap room)
Keep Henry Melton and restructure $9M base into bonus (potential to free up $4M in cap room)
Bring back Demarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford, Josh Brent, Jack Crawford, Ben Gardner, Ken Bishop, Davon Coleman
Free Agent: Jason Pierre Paul (age 26) NY Giants
Draft: Danny Shelton DT Washington or Malcolm Brown DT Texas

Linebackers
Let Bruce Carter and Justin Durant walk. *Willing to re-sign Durant if cheap 1- or 2-year deal
Cap casualties: Dekoda Watson (frees up $1.25M)
Re-sign Rolando McClain
Bring back Sean Lee (restructure possibility), Anthony Hitchens, Kyle Wilber, Will Smith
Free Agent: K.J. Wright (age 26) Seattle
Draft: late round depth

Secondary
Explore trading Morris Claiborne (change of scenery)
Cap casualties: Brandon Carr (June 1st cut frees up $8M) Jakar Hamilton and Jeff Heath (frees up approx. $1.2M)
Re-sign Sterling Moore
Bring back Orlando Scandrick, J.J. Wilcox, Barry Church, Tyler Patmon
Free Agent: Chris Culliver (age 27) San Francisco
Draft: Gerod Holliman FS Louisville, Josh Shaw CB USC
* I would let Sterling Moore, Chris Culliver, and Claiborne (if not traded) battle for the starting CB job opposite Scandrick. I would also have Church and Wilcox slug it out for the SS job.

Good thoughts, Chris.

One of the positives I feel about this team's future is improved scouting and drafting ability.
LB's are usually some of the best athletes, and I would think we can rebuild the ST with late round or UDFA LB's.
I'm not sure Will Smith is in the team's future, but I like Wright as a FA.

JPP will attract a boatload of money, but JJ might just go phallic on him.

 

[rwalters31]

It seems like they need a key free agent or two to upgrade the defense.

Melton's option is 9M and he's only been playing about 45% of the snaps. Yes!

Greg Hardy would be a wow player, but I don't know the status of his legal issues. Yes!

Tramon Williams? He's 31. Green Bay will let free agents move on more than some other teams. Maybe!

Brandon Flowers or Antonio Cromartie? Yes and Yes!!!

Charles Tillman as a 3rd CB and reclamation project? He is 33 and has missed most of the past 2 season with an arm injury. He had 10 forced fumbles in the last full season.

See above answers. Also, I believe the defense needs to be build though the draft. Draft DE, CB, & RT. Also, Murray's replacement.

 

[jterrell]

History tells us Dallas will look to it's own FA first.

Carr and Melton will get renegotiation talks is my guess.
Durant and McClain will get asked to test the market and bring back for Dallas to match.
Carter is likely gone.

Dallas needs 1 high quality safety and 1 legit pass rusher IMHO. Getting both from the draft would be ideal but that's a big gamble.
They have bodies at CB and those guys compete for the top 3 roles.

I'd be interested in Cliff Avril at the right price. Part-time pass rusher but fits system and rotation to a tee.
Just not sure he'll b cheap enough.

 

[jterrell]

Good thoughts, Chris.

One of the positives I feel about this team's future is improved scouting and drafting ability.
LB's are usually some of the best athletes, and I would think we can rebuild the ST with late round or UDFA LB's.
I'm not sure Will Smith is in the team's future, but I like Wright as a FA.

JPP will attract a boatload of money, but JJ might just go phallic on him.

Unfortunately his thoughts are more Madden then NFL.
KJ Wright isn't leaving Seattle for anything other than large dollars.
We also aren't cutting 3 or 4 (much less 8 or 9) vets just to replace them with similar vets that do not know the system.

JPP has had more than 6.5 sacks only once in a 5 year career.
You don't pay huge money for that.
He's not some 30 play guy that is gonna explode with a starting role.
He is a well known pass rusher that has been very mediocre for years now.

Dallas will tweak it's DL but it won't be a total overhaul.

Jeff Heath is here to stay as a ST guy and back up safety they trust... no matter how much we hate it.

I do think we'll draft a DB and a DL first two rounds but who knows if they will be able to play as a rookie considering where we look to be drafting.

 

[BlindFaith]

JPP hasn't been an elite player in 3 years.

Sometimes letting go of old memories is hard.

And Melton wouldn't make another teams roster?

(where's that facepalm smiley when it need it...)

Sorry, I forgot about Melton. Kinda sad that our best DL is that forgettable.

 

[BlindFaith]

Why would you assume that? They did it often in this scheme. They did it often last year with Ware. Ware probably crashed down inside more often than not.

According to who? Your analysis? Do you know what the play call is? Or the scheme assignments of his defense? Or are you just making observations? Either way, citing the fact that this could be intentional and has been a key component in the worst defense of all time (last year) and a below average defense this year doesn't speak too highly of this attack.

 

[BlindFaith]

JPP hasn't been an elite player in 3 years.

Sometimes letting go of old memories is hard.

And Melton wouldn't make another teams roster?

(where's that facepalm smiley when it need it...)

I'm not saying JPP is elite. I am saying Mincey isn't even close to being what JPP is.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'm not saying JPP is elite. I am saying Mincey isn't even close to being what JPP is.

The numbers do not suggest much difference between JPP and Mincey.

If you have information to the contrary, feel free to share it.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I would reference Charles Haley and Demarcus ware in debate of that issue.

Those guys went to Super Bowl contenders. We're just one year removed from being 8-8. I don't think this team can be compared to what the Cowboys in the 90's and what the Broncos did. Bronco's have one less loss than we do. Either way, those are two examples of it working out. There are hundreds of other ones that have failed.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The numbers do not suggest much difference between JPP and Mincey.

If you have information to the contrary, feel free to share it.

People are so stuck on the flashes JPP showed 3 years ago. Since then, excuses have been made for why he isn't playing up to what he did that year. Its always been "he's been hurt". The guy is solid against the run but he's not a great pass rusher.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

People are so stuck on the flashes JPP showed 3 years ago. Since then, excuses have been made for why he isn't playing up to what he did that year. Its always been "he's been hurt". The guy is solid against the run but he's not a great pass rusher.

Exactly.

Folks are impressed by what JPP did in 2011.

In 2014 he's not much (if at all) better than Mincey.

 

[xwalker]

According to who? Your analysis? Do you know what the play call is? Or the scheme assignments of his defense? Or are you just making observations? Either way, citing the fact that this could be intentional and has been a key component in the worst defense of all time (last year) and a below average defense this year doesn't speak too highly of this attack.

The DEs crash down inside dozens of times per game. That's not an opinion, it's on tape.

Why they do it or how the surrounding players should react is opinion, but the fact that they do it is not opinion.